We are officially past the halfway point of 2025. This month’s astronomical events will mostly be highlighted by meteor showers! Perfect for summer camping trips and marshmallows by the fire.
Following a long hiatus from the night sky, Saturn is once again visible, breaching the horizon around 10:00 pm this month. Easy to spot with its yellow tint and subtle oblong shape (due to its rings). Another planet primed for viewing is Mercury. Normally hard to spot due to its proximity to the sun, Mercury is visible not long after sunset. On Independence Day, Mercury reaches its “greatest eastern elongation,” meaning it is furthest from the sun in our view of the sky. Venus can be seen in the early morning, around 4:00 am along with Jupiter rising just after, around 5:00 am.
July’s full moon will be on July 10. Named the “Buck Moon” due to its alignment with the time of year bucks have fully grown their new antlers. The process of shedding normally happens in the winter with the regrowing process beginning in the spring. This moon is also referred to as the “Thunder Moon” due to summer storms or the “Berry Moon” due to us being in ripe berry season.
Beginning July 17, the Perseid meteor shower kicks off. Its peak doesn’t arrive until August 12, so there is plenty of time to catch some shooting stars. Best times to spot these are shortly after midnight. The shower is caused by debris left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle, which passed the sun in 1992. It won’t return to its nearest point until 2125 with its 133~ year long orbit. These meteors can be seen near the constellation Perseus.
Another! Beginning July 18, the Delta Aquarids meteor shower peaks July 30. This shower is more favorable to the southern hemisphere but will still offer some visible streaks. This shower is caused by debris of the comet cluster 96P/Machholz Complex. The comet 96P/Machholz was discovered in 1986 and orbits the sun every 5-6 years. These meteors can be seen near the constellation Aquarius. Given these two showers at vastly different spots in the sky, it will be an excellent month to catch shooting stars given nearly anywhere you look.
July 24 sees the new moon. This is an excellent time for planet viewing or to lock your telescopes onto farther off objects, like nebulae and galaxies.
There is always plenty to see and many apps, websites, and other resources to aid in identifying. NASA is always great for events (like the meteor shower) and ISS flyovers. Happy and lucky stargazing to you.
Astronomy Update for July
By Sam Bishop